antique or reproduction

Choosing Vintage and Antique Hardware - A Basic Overview

2012-01-25T00:47:00.001-08:00

Antique hardware or antique reproduction hardware refers to time period specific door, window, cabinet, furniture or other home hardware pieces. Depending on the era, hardware was (and still is) produced in a wide variety of materials including forged or cast iron, solid brass, pewter, bronze, steel, or even glass. Popularity of designs and availability of materials varied during different architectural periods. For example Colonial Era hardware was traditionally simple in design and made of cast or forged iron, while other Victorian era used highly ornate pieces cast from solid brass and were used as much for their aesthetic qualities as their functionality in the home.

Antique or reproduction antique hardware for the home is a wonderful way to add elegance to any room, door, or piece of furniture. The wide variety of materials, designs and finishes gives you a chance to refurbish old pieces or add a beautiful finishing touch to new additions to your home. While antique hardware may be more limited in availability, reproduction antique hardware is beautifully hand cast and finished to fit your design needs. Original designs are recast to maintain all the detail of the original designs and frequently available in a wider variety of finishes including Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Polished Chrome, Satin Nickel and Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Reproduction antique hardware is produced today - allowing you to incorporate their patterns in your doors, windows, kitchen cabinets and more. It is a simple way to introduce a common theme to your house. Antique or reproduction antique hardware can transform a boring home into a showplace - but be sure to follow a few simple steps. First, remember that antique hardware (especially doorknob sets) may not be designed to work in modern doors. Most reproduction doorknob sets are designed to fit modern doors while still using traditional historic designs. Second, replace older or worn pieces throughout your home with the same or similar period pieces to help tie the look together for you. Note: The use of a common theme will help tie the look together for you. You can consult decorating magazines for assistance or ask an interior decorator for help as well.

Antique or reproduction antique hardware is readily available online. Research period specific pieces and be sure to ask questions. When working with antique or reproduction hardware it is important to remember that different shapes and combinations will work to tie themselves together nicely. A large collection of antique reproduction hardware is available online through LookInTheAttic & Company - they are experts who can reproduce most any hardware and they also offer free design assistance and help.

Kohn Coleman born in Michigan - received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 2000. He is president of LookInTheAttic & Company online at http://www.LookInTheAttic.com and authors numerous articles and publications on historical architecture.

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Antique Pottery Reproductions

2012-01-24T00:41:00.001-08:00

A Brief History

Antique reproductions have abounded on the market for as many years as there have been antiques. As early as the 1960's, reproductions of old pattern glass examples from the late 1800's started to appear in antique shops, markets and shows. This early onset of reproductions spurred a niche market in the Antiques and Collectibles field.

What occurred in the 1960's spawned an incredible growth in reproductions not only in the glass markets but also in almost all specialty antique and collectible markets including cast iron and pottery. In the early 1970's, the Merritt family headed by Mary and Bob Merritt started one of the longest running reproduction wholesalers in the USA, which later through a family dispute branched off into one of the most successful business ventures in the Antique reproduction field, known as Fred & Dottie's, Inc.

Up until the late 1970's Merritts enjoyed somewhat of a monopoly until Fred Burkholder (son of Mary Merritt) and Dottie (Fred's wife), both minority shareholders, broke away from Merritt's after a bitter family dispute. Fred and Dottie Burkholder formed Fred & Dottie's, Inc. and began their own reproduction wholesale business just a few miles down the road from their former partners in business.

Within a few years, the rivals were ferociously competing as more Reproduction wholesalers began to spring up throughout the USA. Ralph Lussino and his brother, John, friends and former customers of the Burkholder's and Merritts threw their 'hat in the ring' and formed Castle Antiques and Reproductions.

All three of these Reproduction wholesalers are still in Business as of this writing, although Castle is in the process of liquidating their entire inventory and closing in late 2008.

Glassware reproductions of the late 1800's were extremely popular in the 1960's and 1970's, but began to slide in popularity, giving way to depression era glassware reproductions in the 1980's. These trends were set primarily by the demand of the public to decorate with the hottest trend of that time. While the 1980's and early 1990's saw a dramatic increase in demand for depression-era glassware, the reproduction markets responded with 100's of patterns of depression-era glassware. As time went on, the late 1990's saw a trend toward art pottery of the 1950's, which stimulated a growth of reproductions from the Weller, McCoy, Roseville and Majolica potters. The most popular of all these companies was the McCoy Pottery Company, mainly because it was the most recognizable, the most affordable and the most diverse of all the potters of the 1950's.

In 1997 an American manufacturer had set out to reproduce some of the most popular McCoy patterns, successfully manufacturing a line of over 110 pieces including cookie jars, vases, creamers, bowls, black memorabilia, and planters. Up until this time, an overwhelming majority of reproductions were manufactured in China, Mexico, India, Taiwan and England. This would be the only USA manufacturer of reproduction pottery and the only company permitted to use the USA logo on all their pottery. (Foreign imports are not permitted by law to put USA on their items in accordance with US Customs Federal law)

Why Reproductions?

•Demand

Designers and decorators want to enhance their client's homes and business', but are not able to find an available supply of the types of antiques they need. Collectors wishing to enhance their collection may search for years for that one rare 'missing piece' in their collection. There is a short supply of original antiques in the marketplace, and that supply shrinks every day as more people buy up original antiques.

•Affordability

Imagine buying an original tiffany lamp for $4500 or you could choose a reproduction which has the same look and most times better quality at a fraction of the cost ($300-$500). You could decorate one room with an original, or your entire house with reproductions. Designers and decorators in the last decade have been using reproductions to decorate client's homes and business' because it is more affordable and the insurance replacement cost premium is much less. The only one who really knows that beautiful 'Antique' is not an original is you!

•The 'LOOK'

When decorating, we all want to give our visitors, friends and clients the impression of wealth and 'we are doing well' attitude. What better way to stretch your decorating budget, then to display beautiful antique reproductions throughout your home or business? It just screams, "I am doing well! Look at my beautiful collection!" We all desire that LOOK, the look that we are keeping up with the " Jones's' ", the look that exudes and exemplifies the epitome of wealth.

•Memories

Remember when...? A question you have probably asked many times in your life, pondering the good old days or remembering that favorite vase mom or grandma always had on the mantle, or the cookie jar she had in the kitchen. It brings back the "good OLE' days" when you see grandma's cookie jar, you remember her baking your favorite chocolate chip cookies and you can almost taste them again.

Our lives are filled with memories that bring back the pleasant times of our lives as we grew up. Having available reproductions and easily being able to acquire them brings back a rush of memories, giving us a feeling of euphoria and contentment.

When you combine the demand, the affordability, the 'look' and the memories, you can see why antique reproductions are such an integral part of our lives. If you have been inspired by this article to reminisce, or you want to decorate your home or business with beautiful antique reproduction pottery, take a moment and visit the links below.

Antique Pottery Reproductions

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Antique Jewellery - Real Or Reproduction

2012-01-23T00:44:00.000-08:00

Behold that gorgeous antique brooch you've been staring at for the last few days on the internet! It's obviously Art Nouveau... isn't it?

It's often very difficult to distinguish from a genuine antique jewellery piece and a good reproduction. Here are some key points that you should bear in mind before you shop and pay for what you think is a Victorian piece of jewellery only to find out that it's a clever reproduction.

Being able to identify the findings that are attached to the jewellery for function rather than design is sometimes a good way to determine age, although findings can often have been altered at a later date. Some examples of "findings" are the hinges, clasps and catches on the piece. The Victorian era featured tube hinges until a more streamlined design was introduced in the later part of the era. Other types of hinges such as roll over, C shaped and safety pin types evolved over the years. A lobster catch will not be on a piece of authentic antique jewellery.

The colours and metals changed in style through the years. The art deco period featured bright primary colours while the Victorian era did not. Being able to identify the cut of the stone and the type of stone in the piece will also help in dating the piece. Modern brilliant cut diamonds, for example, were not introduced to the market until the early 20th century.

Aluminium, platinum, pot metal and copper have been the popular metals in the 20th century. White gold for example, although first introduced at the turn of the 1900s, wasn't in wide circulation until about 1920 when it was used as a cheaper alternative to platinum. As another example, 15 carat gold was a British Empire gold standard until it was discontinued in 1932 and it was commonly used in Victorian jewellery.

But often in Victorian times there was more emphasis on the workmanship and beauty of the item than on the quality of materials used. Pinchbeck for example, an alloy of zinc and copper, was a respectable alternative to gold in the Victorian era but is commonly found at the cheaper end of the market today when so much importance is placed on jewellery being made of gold or platinum.

Feeling the weight of the piece can also help identify its age but, if you're buying online, ask the seller how much it weighs. A brooch from the Victorian era can look a lot heavier than one that was reproduced in recent years but often a large piece was made reasonably light so that it didn't pull on the wearer's clothing. Check also to see if jewels are glued in and if the piece is hand made or the product of a mould.

A registration mark on a piece will give you an accurate time frame as will hallmarks. A makers mark or label is another step in identification. There are plenty of guides and forums available online to help identify hallmarks.

Lastly, try to find a picture of the item to compare with the piece in question. Often pictures are available in books, such as Carter's Antiques Guide (Australia), or online. Obviously, some of these checks are trickier to use if you're buying online but if the piece is not as described when you receive it (ie. fake), then you are entitled to a full refund. Your local Trading Standards or Fair Trading agency should help you out in the event of any difficulties in this.

Do your homework. Check the seller's credentials and use the internet for clues and, above all, ask lots of questions!

Based on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, Rebecca works for David Frith Jewellery - handmade jewellery designer for clients all over the world. Specialist also in antique jewellery restoration. For affordable antique jewellery online visit => http://www.davidfrithjewellery.com

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Antiquing Glass - Antique Mirror Glass

2012-01-22T01:16:00.001-08:00

Girandoni air rifle as used by Lewis and Clark. A National Firearms Museum Treasure Gun.

2012-01-21T01:07:00.001-08:00

Wedding & Engagement Rings : Antique Engagement Rings

2012-01-20T00:48:00.001-08:00

restoring wood furniture,how to remove old wood finish

2012-01-19T01:12:00.000-08:00

antique bottles found in a hole

2012-01-18T00:58:00.000-08:00

Antique Furniture: Appealing to Your Aesthetic Tastes With Their Grandiose Designs!

2012-01-17T00:40:00.000-08:00

With the advent of the global economy, there has been a massive growth in the business of antique furniture and handicrafts in the export and domestic market. Thousands of antique collectible item providers worldwide claim to weave the architectural wonders of the classic ages with their extensive collection of classic furniture, classic antique lamps and antique chandeliers, antique accessories and other collectible items. While the serious antique collectors and museums have always been passionate about restoring heritage pieces and traditional architectural items encompassing history and classicism, the modern man has also been gradually conscious of the heritage of classic design furniture adapted to the needs of today. Therefore, the antique items today form part of his living room or dining hall, apart from being valued heritage items at museums worldwide.
The antique furniture items, including the classic English furniture, antique Continental furniture, antique Oriental furniture items (including the antique Chinese furniture, antique Japanese and antique Tibetan furniture), function as wonderful utility items as well as distinctive decorative pieces reflecting the art, culture and aesthetic flavor of the Medieval, Gothic and the Renaissance period. Antique furniture of the Gothic, Georgian, Medieval and Renaissance period generally comprises of a vast selection of cupboards, cabinets, tables, chairs, armoires, dressers, coffers and chests, benches, bookcases and mirrors. While the European, American and Continental antique furniture and collectibles characterize the western classic architectural essence, the antique Chinese furniture and antique Japanese furniture unfold the magic and charm of the mystic Oriental culture that is reflected in their intricate artistic carving and inlaid decoration.
While the antique lamps and chandeliers, with the vintage or figural hand-carved varieties used to be great sources of attraction and beauty in the mid eighteenth and nineteenth centuries all over Europe, the advent of electric lamps globally had ousted those and turned them to be mere museum pieces. Truly authentic antique electric lamps and chandeliers have very limited supply. Hundreds of antique providers today claim to supply beautiful hand cut European crystal lamps and chandeliers, which can complement any antique décor. You, however, have to be extremely prudent of your purchase of the authentic antique chandeliers and lamps from extremely reliable dealers and traders of antique lamp and chandeliers.
Today, the web world has come up with unique, innovative online storehouses, offering exclusive and exquisite inventory of antique furniture items, along with antique lamps and antique chandeliers. Many of these online antique furniture providers and dealers stock an inexhaustible selection of 18th and 19th century Country Furniture comprising of farmhouse tables in Oak and Fruitwoods and sets of Country Chairs such as Windsors, Ladders, Spindlebacks and so on. They claim to be online superstores of vast and diverse online antiques and collectibles encompassing a huge gamut of architecture, antique decorative items, antique paintings or fine arts collections, antique clocks, crockery, figurines, furniture, glassware and so on. No longer will you have to search frantically for reliable antique dealers, wholesalers and retailers for your purchase of rare antique English, antique French or antique Chinese furniture. With the click of the mouse, today you have a plethora of sites dealing with the online purchase of your favorite antique items through a vast and organized global network of antique dealers and suppliers that cater to the aesthetic tastes of diverse sections of the community.
Choose the most authentic antique site for the purchase of your favorite antique items. All of these sites will claim to provide you with the best deals. You, however, have to get armed with proper knowledge of the antiques before rushing for your purchase, as it is no trifle investment! Therefore, get your deals from only those antique dealers/providers on the net with adequate knowledge, expertize and experience in the arena of antique furniture and collectibles.

About the Author:
Lopa Bhattacharya (Banerjee) is a content writer/developer for overseas/Indian corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials. Have worked on SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Does freelance writing assignments for the print and web media featuring women, children, health, literature, art, and media.

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What I Need to Know About Copies of Old Maps and Reproductions of Antique Maps

2012-01-16T00:45:00.000-08:00

If you like old maps then you need to you learn about antique map reproductions. Reproductions of old maps have become very popular. They can be seen copied onto fabrics for pillows, coffee mugs, calendars and even boxer shorts. We will concern ourselves with the reproductions of old maps on paper.
The high price of genuine antique maps has led many stores to offer cheaper copies of old maps. These copies have no collectable value in them and will probably not gain any value even in a hundred years when they themselves become antiques. As things stand now, a hundred year old reproduction of a map is hardly worth anything today.
Maps that have monetary value to them are the old original ones. They are the maps that people centuries ago had held in their hands to plan the discovery and exploration of new lands. People prefer to own a map that has the railroads on it as the railroads were being built or has the US Indian tribes before the tribes were sent to reservations. These original documents are rare because so few of them have survived. Think about all the road maps that have been thrown away and how valuable the ones that will survive will be in 200 years. A reproduction of an old map does not have the historical feel and energy that the old one does.
You might say that the reproduction does not spark the imagination, but can look nice on your wall. This is a valid point unless you look a bit closer. When you look up close at your reproduction can you read the towns, rivers and mountain ranges? Is it a bit blurry? There is a good chance your map reproduction was blown up in size from the original and much detail was lost in the enlargement. If you look a bit closer you may even see the bad color printing.
Still you may think that a reproduction map is cheaper than an original antique map. It can still be an over-priced copy when you start to consider how easy it is to copy a map. A very high quality copy should not cost you more than 20 dollars for a medium size map. Anything more is over priced. The cost of framing can often negate the savings of buying a copy. It is not rare to see reproductions of maps sold for more than the original. It is certainly worth investigating the price difference between a copy of an antique map and an original antique map.

MapsandArt.com is your online art, map and print store in which you can:
LEARN about engravings, etchings and antique art in general by visiting the INFO CENTER on our website COMPARE thousands of original works of art on paper by viewing products and zooming in with our magnifying tool. SHOP for original art, old maps and antique prints at our convenient ecommerce store.
We have thousands of antique prints, old maps and original art on paper for sale, visit our website at http://www.mapsandart.com.

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Antiques Are Valuable Pieces of Art and History

2012-01-15T01:56:00.000-08:00

An antique is an object which belongs to a past era valued for its artistry, craftsmanship, rarity and age. The term originates from the Latin word "antiquus" which means "old" or "ancient".
Antique experts and collectors have different factors in considering or defining antique, but a common denominator is the age of the items. An object has to be made from an earlier period than the present. Moreover, an object has to be at least 100 years old to qualify as antique.
Other antique experts and collectors regard a hundred year old object not antique enough compared to an item that is at least 300 years old. An antique item in one country may not be considered antique in another country at all. Thus, defining what antique also varies from person to person or from place to place.
Aside from the age of a piece, some antique experts would only describe an object as antique if it is made of the highest quality and features a striking ors one-of-a-kind design.
Antiquing Defined
Antiquing is the art of antique collection. It involves the process of shopping, identifying, negotiating, bargaining and buying so called antique items. Antiques may range from pieces of furniture such as a table, chair, desk, or dresser among others; a piece of jewellery; kitchen pieces such as tableware, dinner sets or pots; sculptures; paintings; maps; coins; stamps; books; other home pieces such as clocks; and carpets as well. Antique furniture is one of the most commonly collected items because of its practical uses.
Antiques can be made of varied materials such as fabric, wood, porcelain, ivory or glass. Antiques are sold in antique shops all over the world. The internet is also a rich source of information for antique collectors. Several websites pertain to antiques which are useful for antique collectors, both old and new.
Antique collection depends on the interests and preferences of antique collectors. Some antique collectors prefer to collect antiques of a specific period only. Mostly, devoted antique collectors spend considerable time and money to acquire a piece to add in the collection.
Antiquing is indeed an expensive hobby but other antique collectors purchase antiques for potential resale and antiquing also refers to the process of making an object appear antique.
Antiques and its Purpose
Antiques are significant artefacts of the past which help historians and archaeologists from understanding the earlier period of human history. All antiques are valuable because these objects represent the past. However, some are considered priceless because they are vital in the recognition and education of the history of a specific place in a specific time so these antiques are placed in museums. Other antiques can be bought in various antique shops for the satisfaction of antique collectors. Antiques are also considered heirlooms hence, also priceless.
Monetary Value of Antiques
The value of antique depends on the number of items available in the market, the condition of the item, and the amount that collectors would pay for it.
Antique appraisal, or the process of determining the value of antiques, is essential to every antique collector. Finding a qualified antique appraiser requires meticulous research. Antique appraisers have different specialization on antiques. An appraiser whose forte is on antique ceramics may not be able to provide valuable details on antique jewellery.
It is also important to note that some pieces of antiques are recommended for antique restoration while others are more valuable as they appear to be. A professional antique restorer provides expert help in determining what needs to undergo essential restoration to add more value to the antique and restore it to its original appearance and function.

Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize your exposure online.

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A Quick Guide To Mahogany Antique Reproduction Furniture

2012-01-14T01:15:00.000-08:00

Mahogany furniture is a largely English furniture institution. Much of the antique furniture originating in the 18th Century was made of mahogany. Not only did it look extremely appealing, it was also widely known for its hard wearing and long lasting properties. As mahogany was not native to England, it was exported from Puerto Rico and Cuba for use in furniture making. However, it is extremely expensive today and is not commonly used for furniture. Antique mahogany furniture is also really expensive so if you are looking to decorate your home then you may want to investigate the possibility of buying mahogany antique reproduction furniture.
Mahogany antique reproduction furniture is beautiful as a result of its carved patterns and rich colouring. It can add character to any room and should be the focal point if it is purchased for your home. Mahogany antique reproduction furniture is very popular and can be used to great effect, regardless of whether you choose to purchase one piece or a whole house full.
Although you will not find mahogany antique reproduction furniture in regular antiques stores, there is still a huge market for it. Craftsmen that make the mahogany antique reproduction furniture are highly skilled individuals and give the pieces character and style. As a result, there are a number of stores that have snapped such pieces up to market them effectively. There are online and offline stores that stock mahogany antique reproduction furniture so it is easy enough to locate and not all that expensive to buy. As it is still made of mahogany it does have a fairly high price tag, but not nearly as high as the real thing.
The mahogany used to make mahogany antique reproduction furniture is actually imported from Africa so it should tell a tale in itself. However, by the time its gets you it has a completely different history.
Every piece of mahogany antique reproduction furniture is reliable and should last a lifetime or two. Most pieces are carved in great detail and are very pretty, especially if placed in the right place. The pieces are also functional and can be used in daily life. However, most mahogany antique reproduction furniture is in a more formal style and thus would do well in a room designed for entertaining, such as a dining room or office. Many designs appear in a Victorian style and thus can seem a bit overbearing at times. However, if combined with carpets and walls in lighter tones then it would go extremely well in any room of the house.
You should care for mahogany antique reproduction furniture in much the same way as you would authentic antique furniture, with a little tender loving care and a soft cloth! It can add value to your home and give it an individual flavour that most crave so enjoy it while you can!

You can also find more info on Antique Furniture Lighting and Antique Furniture Reproductions. Antiquefurniturersource.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Antique Funiture.

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Can Antique Furniture Reproductions Be Genuine?

2012-01-13T00:46:00.000-08:00

Why would anyone buy antique furniture reproductions? If the styles and construction of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are so appealing, why not just buy the genuine antique?
After all, what can compare with the wonderful sense of history and romance conjured by a genuine antique? What ardent seventeenth century lovers may have stolen a kiss on that Louis XIV loveseat, what secret missive may have been composed atop that delicate marquetry writing desk? Undoubtedly, antiques have an undeniable cachet.
All of which again begs the question: why not buy the original? And frankly, as a dealer who has collected, sold and loved antiques for virtually all of my life, I would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to. Except.
Since the turn of the last century, truly fine antiques have become increasingly difficult to find, and, consequently, increasingly expensive. Antiques having become something of a craze during the 1980s, old barns and attics, once the source of many a delightful find, have long since been mined of their treasures. Oh, of course, antiques were constructed to last, so that is not to say they no longer exist. Only now, that sturdily comforting Country French table, that elegant Louis XV banquette, that incredible Malouine parquetry armoire that you so covet is already living happily ever after in someone else's home. Or being offered at a price so exorbitant it takes your breath away.
And that, in a nutshell, is the answer to "Why buy reproduction furniture?" But, since genuine antiques will always hold a special place in my heart (in fact, when the opportunity arises, I still collect the occasional piece), I am something of a snob when it comes to reproductions. In fact, in my opinion, as surely as there is such a thing as a "genuine antique," there is also a "genuine reproduction." That is, I do not consider a piece of mass-manufactured furniture that is simply made in the style of an antique to qualify as a genuine reproduction, any more than I would consider a paint-by-numbers copy of the Mona Lisa to be a work of art.
And, again in my opinion, both genuine antiques and genuine reproductions are works of art. Both are hand-crafted by skilled artisans using centuries-old techniques and styles as timeless as - well, as the Mona Lisa herself.
On the purely practical side, reproductions are made to last and, because of the quality of design, materials and construction, they will more than likely become the antiques of tomorrow. Also, they allow you to have, in your own home, that very special desk or chair or buffet that you have seen in your mind's eye (or in your friend's living room), but that you could not otherwise buy at any price.
And if you find the term "reproduction" as limiting as I do, simply call these fine hand-crafted pieces what they truly are: new antiques.

Gregory Kerwin, raised in his Grandmother's houses in Paris and Southern France, has spent the decades since gathering still more beautiful and unusual things for his TK Collections . . . including a wide selection of genuine antique reproduction furniture hand-made by French artisans using the techniques of their forefathers. These pieces can be custom stained or painted just for you, as they were for the 17th century French housewife or Lord of the Castle. You can see a sampling - along with TK Collection's authentic French cafe chairs, wrought iron furniture, chandeliers and more - at http://www.tkcollections.com

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Important Antiquing Information That Every Antique Hunter Should Know

2012-01-12T01:25:00.001-08:00

Antiquing can be one very good hobby and a good source of income. This is one ground why there are a lot of individuals around the world who gets involved in such activity. If you have a passion and art and decoration, then this hobby is very suitable for you. Some people even go the distance and travel to different places just to be able to find antiques that are valuable and elegant, while some just check antique shops and stores hoping to find something of great value. This kind of hobby, though, requires the hunter to have sufficient knowledge and skills with regards to antiquing if you want to become successful. To give you more ideas, here are a few antiquing information that you might want to take note of.
When talking about hunting and collecting antiques, the first antiquing information that you should know is how to identify a valuable antique item. Knowing how to differentiate a valuable antique from a fake or worthless one is necessary as there are a lot of it that have already undergone some repairs. There are also some that are known as replications or "fake" ones. For the benefit of those who do not yet have ideas about these items, antiques are things or objects that exist more than a hundred years old already. There are also some items that are considered as antiques even though their age is just around eighty years old, but these cases are just isolated.
Antique information such as knowing the brands, types, and historical backgrounds of an item is very important in antiquing. These are some of the main factors that contribute to the value of an antique item. Antiques that are very rich in historical backgrounds are those that are really valuable. The most common items that are being collected by antique collectors are china, furniture, glass, and artworks. Others invest in collecting old coins, postal stamps, books, and many more.
Learning how to identify if the condition of an antique item is still of good quality is one very important antiquing information that every antique hunter must also know. And, in order to properly identify a valuable antique from a worthless one, most antique hunters use different kinds of tools and equipments. One of the most useful tools in antiquing is the black light. With the use of a black light, you can conclude several ideas or theories about the value and the condition of an antique item. But, it takes a lot of experience and knowledge on how to use the black light properly in order to be able to use it precisely.

Margaret W. Moore is an art enthusiast and loves collecting antique items very much. She had been onto antiquing for decades and continues to share all her knowledge and expertise about successful antiquing through specific antiquing information. She also compiled all her knowledge and expertise about antiquing and authored the book "The Hidden Secrets Of Antiquing" for the benefit of those who want to know more about successful antiquing. To discover more secrets behind successful antiquing, please feel free to visit her site http://www.superantiquingsecrets.com.

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Washing Different Types of Fabrics in Different Ways

2012-01-11T01:25:00.000-08:00

After clothes are worn for some time, they must be dirty. There are two types of impurities in the clothes. One is the dirt secreted from the body such as sweat. The other is the dirt produced when you are working, such as soil, ink or grease, etc. The type of dirt is various. It can be divided into water-soluble dirt, oil-soluble dirt and solid dirt. These types of dirt often mix together and adhere to clothes.
When clothes are dirty, you have to wash them. Different types of fabrics should be washed in different ways.
1 Cotton
Cotton can bear high temperature. It is alkali-proof but not acid-proof. It can be washed with every kind of soap and detergent. Before washing it, you should soak it in water for several minutes so that it won't fade color. However, the lingerie can't be soaked in hot water, otherwise the protein contained in sweat will concrete and adhere to it. After washing, hang the garment in a cool and ventilated place to prevent it from fading color.
2 Linen
Linen is very strong so that it can't be bent easily. When it is washed, it is lighter than cotton. Do remember don't brush it with a hard brush or rub it hard, otherwise the surface will be roughened. What's more, don't wring it with strong force.
3 Silk
Before washing silk, you should soak it in water for ten minutes. You can wash it with neutral soap or neutral detergent. After washing it, you should compress instead of wringing the water out gently. It should be air-dried in the cool and ventilated place. Don't hang it under the sunshine or dry it by putting it in front of an oven.
4 Wool
Wool is not alkali-proof, so you should wash it with neutral detergent. Wool textile is apt to shrink and be out of shape in the water with the temperature above 30 degrees centigrade. After you wash it, don't wring it with strong force. If you remove the water with a washing machine, the spinning time can't exceed 5 minutes.
5 Terylene textile
You should soak it in water for 15 minutes first, and then wash it with the common synthetic detergent. The liquid temperature can't exceed 45 degrees centigrade. After washing it, you can wring it gently and air-dry it in the cool and ventilated place.
6 Leather
The leather clothes can't be soaked in water. You should dip a soft cloth or a soft brush into water and then use it to wipe the dirt off. After air-drying it, you'd better coat it with a layer of wax.

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Antiques and Reproductions - Can You Tell the Difference?

2012-01-10T04:05:00.001-08:00

Can you tell the difference between an antique and a reproduction? Does it really even matter?
There's nothing wrong with good quality reproductions. You just want to make sure that you know that's what you are getting. Here are some tips to help you tell them apart.
Wood. Antiques tend to not be made using one type of wood. Why? It simply didn't make economic sense to use expensive wood such as mahogany in areas where no one would ever see it. That's why the bottoms of drawers and joints of antiques might have lesser quality woods such as pine, maple. Reproductions tend to be made top-to-bottom from one wood and can be heavily stained to hide a poor quality wood. Check the underside, if the wood seems the same throughout the piece, it may be new.
Upholstery stuffing. Up until late early 20th century, horsehair and hay were used to stuff upholstered furniture. Synthetics such as foam were introduced around 1920s. Keep in mind that the horsehair or hay may have been replaced in an antique during an earlier reupholstering. It's not necessarily bad, it's just no longer in original condition.
Signs of wear. Do the signs of wear make sense? An antique chair will show increased signs of wear at the end of the arms where the hands would naturally rest more so than underneath the arm. If the wear is consistent through the piece, it's likely a reproduction that has been distressed to appear old.
Signs of age. Look for signs of cracks caused by shrinkage. They indicate that the wood has expanded and contracted over time. This is normal for an antique.
Antique marble. To find out if the marble is original to an antique, check the back of the piece. If the cut line at the back is jagged, the marble is likely original to the piece. In the 18th century, the tools to cut marble straight were not yet available. If the marble is smoothly cut, it's likely post 18th century.
Hand carving. Run your finger along the carving. Is it bumpy or smooth? Hand carving is uneven and asymmetrical. Machine carving is smooth and symmetrical.
Dovetailing. Handmade 18th century dovetails are large and uneven. Machine-made dovetails are thin and even.
Construction. Phillips screws, staples and fiberboard are all tip-offs to reproductions. On antiques with large surfaces (tables, trunks, armoires), furniture makers used wide boards with an uneven width. Reproductions use narrow boards with an even width.
Gluing. On older pieces, cabinetmakers would reinforce glued joints with dowels, mortise and tenon etc. to ensure that they were good and sturdy. Poor quality reproductions will often only be glued which down the road will lead to them falling apart. Slip a piece of paper between the joints to see if it is reinforced.
Hardware. Vintage hardware has patina. It doesn't have a lacquer finish to protect it from tarnishing and it isn't shiny and new looking.
Rebuilt/refurbished/reproductions. Rebuilt furniture has some new elements added to it such as new shelves, backs on an armoire. It's common in a lot of French country furniture around today. Refurbished furniture has been restored. Either the wood has been refinished or the upholstery, caning, rushing replaced. Reproductions have no old aspects. They are completely new. Whether something is rebuilt, refurbished or a reproduction is not necessarily a negative, just as long as you are know that you're not buying an antique in original condition.
Insert caning versus hand caning. Inset caning (post 1900) has a spine bordering the caning. Hand caning (pre-1900) doesn't have a border. Every now and then, hand-caned pieces were converted to inset caning when a hand-caner was not to be found. Check the underside of the piece to see if it's been converted. The underside will reveal a series of holes that were used for the hand caning.
Buying reproductions. Buying good quality reproductions eliminates the frustration of hunting for the right piece. Having something custom made ensures you get exactly what you want. For example, the narrow dimensions of antique armoires 15 to 17 inches don't suit today's electronic equipment. Some dealers, including myself, do offer custom reproductions to overcome this predicament.
Buying antiques. The good news about antiques is they can be less expensive than reproductions because you're not paying for materials and labor costs at today's prices. Plus, each antique has a history. The patina, nicks and bangs on antiques reveal a full life of use just as the wrinkles on the face of an elderly person reveal a life that has been fully lived.

Martin Swinton does antique appraisals and estate sales in Toronto, Canada. He has worked at an auction house, furniture restoration company and for ten years owned an antique shop. He does caning, cording and rushing repairs, teaches courses on antiques and appears at community events. He can be reached by visiting http://www.takeaboo.wordpress.com

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